Emergent Literacy EDU 2343

• See children and schools in Ethiopia.
• As you begin collecting materials for your own classroom, check out Dr. Bryant's things online.
• Read the Missouri Reader--a digital literacy magazine produced by our own Dr. Bryant and Mrs. Fox

Course Description

• Instructor: Mrs. Shuler / Gott110/ cshuler@sbuniv.edu
  • professor information
  • office hours
  • main website.
• Class time: Tuesday/Thursday, 12:30-1:45 PM
• Instructional style: This course is a combination of interactive lecture-style format, project-based student demonstrations and presentations, and three one-hour practicum opportunities. Students will participate with group assignments and also complete individual assignments.
• Prerequisite: Education 2113 or Education 2313, or concurrent enrollment. Sophomore standing, 2.25 GPA.
• Required Text: Morrow, L. (2009). Literacy development in the early years: Helping children read and write. 6th Ed. Boston: Allyn & Bacon. [older editions are suitable as well]
• Materials on Reserve in the Library:
  • Akeelah and the Bee. (2006). Movie directed by Doug Atchison.
  • Phonemic Awareness and Phonics resource: Blevins, W. (1998). Phonics from A to Z. New York: Scholastic.
  • Reader’s Theater Resource: Tompkins, G. Teaching Writing: Balancing Process and Product, Pearson Education.

Course Objectives

1. Articulate the way children learn written, oral, and dramatic communication skills and strategies (1.1, 2.1-4; ECE 1.3, 1.4, 6.1, 6.2) [EP, LC] Article Review and Visual Representation* Final Interview*
2. Prepare an environment that enhances communication arts for all learners (1.1, 2.1, 2.4, 3.1, 3.4, 6.1; ECE 2.3).[LC, CP, EP, TS] WPW Lesson Plan / Reading Buddies*
3. Use a variety of teaching strategies for supporting a comprehensive approach to literacy (1.2, 1.4, 2.1, 4.1; ECE 5.1, 5.2, 6.1, 6.2). WPW Lesson Plan / Reader's Theater*
4. Identify and evaluate the family, cultural, and societal influences on literacy development (3.4, 4.2; ECE 3.1).[CP, EP, LC] Reading Buddies*

Attendance and Professionalism

• Absence: As a professional courtesy, call or email me should an absence be necessary or if you need to leave class early or arrive late. You are responsible for notes, assignments, and deadlines for classes missed. All absences and tardies are recorded (5 points are deducted for an absence.)
  • If you need to miss for a school event, please work ahead and turn in the assignment early to avoid penalty.
  • Excused illnesses allow you to make up work missed, such as in-class projects or a test. Our college policy is that a doctor's appointment cannot avoid points lost for being absent, but assignments can still be submitted.
  • Excessive absences: Students missing any more than FIVE classes (20% of regular class meetings) will have their grade lowered one letter unless official documentation shows that the absence is due to conditions described on page 46 of the catalog. These include documented illness, family emergency, or university-sanctioned activity. A student who misses more than six classes will fail the course.
  • Weather: Class will be in session if the university is in session. If the university cancels classes, this class is cancelled. However, if you live out of the area, do not take unnecessary risks to be present
• Late arrival / early departure: Two points are deducted for late arrival or early departure. Three tardies count as one absence, influencing the total number of absences. To avoid being counted absent if you enter class after roll is checked, tell me of your attendance immediately following that class session.
• The 3 P's for Success
  • Preparation for class is crucial to your understanding of the material, long-term retention, and synthesis of material for your future teaching practice. It will make the difference of whether you are a professional or a novice in your field. In class, we will be discussing the new concepts, plus you will take a quiz before class; therefore, I encourage you to carefully read the assignment BEFORE the class session on which it is discussed, then take notes as we work our way through each concept.
  • Participation: Willingness to share, attentiveness, and professional interest will be noted, and answers that do not reflect thoughtful consideration of the topic will influence your class participation grade.
  • Professionalism: Because this is a professional class, professional behavior is expected.
    • Professional dress: Please wear professional clothes (no jeans) for presentations and for Fair Play reading buddies. Avoid low shirts/blouses, low cut pants, and short or tight skirts.
    • Avoid distracting others: Additionally, students who distract others from in-class investigations or meaningful discussions will have the participation grade lowered 3-6 points per class session. This includes sleeping, lack of engagement, talking, sarcasm, distracting others, or use of laptop or cell phone.
    • Cell Phone: Use of cell phones distract you and others. Visible cell phone during lectures/presentations (-3); visible cell phone during exam (0 on the exam)
    • Dispositions: Teacher candidates maximize learning and success in and outside the university classroom when they demonstrate the following dispositions: servanthood, respect, diligence, sensitivity, responsibility, cooperation, determination, initiative, integrity and flexibility. These dispositions help candidates reach an optimal level of learning. Candidates are expected to become familiar with the aforementioned and demonstrate these dispositions across all university settings (i.e. classrooms, field experience facilities, community and campus events, etc.). These qualities are what I reflect upon when a principal of a school asks for a letter of reference.

Course Requirements and Grading

• Attendance, professional in-class engagement, preparation for class (10 pts)
  • 5 points deducted for a missed class
  • 2 points deducted for being tardy/leaving early
  • 3-5 points deducted for not bringing class-assigned items such as laminating graphic organizers or for unprofessional classroom behavior--lack of engagement, sarcasm, sleeping, or use of laptop/cell phone).
• Assignments: signup
  • Article analysis with visual representation (30 points)
  • WPW Lesson Plan (60 points)
  • Reading Buddies practicum--3 lesson plans & reflection (30 points each, 90 pt. total)
  • Readers Theater presentation with lesson plan and handout (40 points)
• Exams/Quizzes: (500 points total)
  • Exams 1-4, 100 points each
  • Quizzes 10 points each (Total 100 points) with 4-5 extra-credit quizzes (extra credit pts).
    • Purpose of Quizzes: To encourage responsible reading and personal investigation of course material, Angel quizzes are given. They are timed to be removed at 7 am on the day due, but may be taken early.
• **Final Interview and Resource Notebook**: (70 points) Oral final exam--collect and organize all handouts, assignments, and class notes in a notebook and bring to the final oral exam.
  • Resource Notebook: Develop a binder to be used for junior block, interviews, and first year teaching. Organize it using a 10-tab system: See the final exam interview for details.

Assignment Policies

• Late work: Ten percent (10%) per calendar day, which includes weekends, will be deducted for the work turned in late. If you are ill, you should send your assignment with another student or via email. Any assignment is considered late if it is not turned in by the class period for which it is assigned.
• Writing standard: Correct English usage, punctuation, and spelling are required for all assignments. Additional points may be taken off for poor writing.
  • See SBU Education Department Writing Expectations
• Disability Statement: Southwest Baptist University desires to provide all students with optimum learning experiences. If you have a disability that impacts learning in this course, you must inform your instructor in order to receive special assistance.
• Ethics: When striving to become an educator, it is imperative that pre-service teachers live a life of integrity. Thorough credit must be given for any images used or ideas borrowed. Any form of cheating, copying, or plagiarism is considered dishonest and will result in loss of credit for the assignment as well as a report of the incident made and filed with the Office of Student Life. At the discretion of the professor, additional action may be taken. A second incident of cheating will result in no credit for the class and also serves as potential grounds for dismissal from the university, as cheating is considered a Class C violation. Please note that this includes the following:
  • Materials that have been turned in for other classes are not to be turned in for this class.
  • More than 3 words together that are copied is considered plagiarism (i.e., the Internet, others work for this class, etc.)
  • Copying a format, although the words are changed, is still considered plagiarism.

Tentative Schedule: Spring '15

Mission Statements

• SBU is a Christ-centered, caring academic community preparing students to be servant leaders in a global society.
• The College of Education and Social Sciences seeks to prepare students for careers in people-oriented and service-minded professions, while encouraging students to embody Christ-like character.
• The Department of Education is a learning community preparing teachers to be caring, effective practitioners in today’s schools.